Reduced costs of mixed-species pairings in flycatchers: by-product or female strategy? |
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Authors: | Thor Veen Franz J Weissing Ben C Sheldon |
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Institution: | 1.Theoretical Biology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies,University of Groningen,Haren,The Netherlands;2.Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology,University of Oxford,Oxford,UK;3.Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre,Uppsala University,Uppsala,Sweden;4.Visby,Sweden;5.Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Biosciences,University of Exeter,Penryn,UK |
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Abstract: | Heterospecific matings are generally assumed to be unconditionally disadvantageous due to reduced viability or fertility of
hybrid offspring. For female collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) mated to male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), the cost of heterospecific pair formation is reduced due to high levels of conspecific extra-pair paternity and a male-biased
offspring sex ratio. In order to investigate whether these cost-reducing mechanisms are the result of female mating strategies,
rather than being a by-product of species incompatibilities, we manipulated the plumage of male collared flycatchers before
pair formation to make them resemble male pied flycatchers. Since species incompatibilities are absent in this design, any
systematic effect of manipulation on sex ratio or paternity would indicate a role of female mating strategy. Paternity was
determined by means of a likelihood approach that controls the errors made in assigning a chick to be ‘within-pair’ or ‘extra-pair’.
Neither the sex ratio nor the male share of paternity was affected by the manipulation in a systematic manner. We therefore
conclude that our experimental data provide no support for the suggestion that female behavioural strategies are markedly
adjusted in response to formation of mixed-species pairs.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Ficedula flycatchers Hybridisation Extra-pair paternity Mate choice Species incompatibility Paternity analysis |
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